Tectonic Plates and Plate Boundaries in Guatemala
Guatemala is located in Central America, sharing borders with neighboring countries of Mexico, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. In the image shown from Tectonic Plates of the Earth, the country sits on the Caribbean Plate and is also close to two others, the North American Plate and the Cocos Plate, making it an active site for volcanic eruptions to occur. These plates are rimmed in a specific zone, called the volcanic belt or the Ring of Fire", and the Cocos Plate in particular is notable by its subduction as it is an oceanic plate on edge and lies beneath the Caribbean Plate.
Guatemala is associated with a convergent boundary, where two tectonic plates are met and pushed together. In this case, the Cocos Plate is pushed or subducted under the Caribbean Plate, resulting in explosive volcanic eruptions. Volcán de Fuego is an example for what occurs after two plates collide. In addition, Guatemala forms a transform boundary known as the Motagua fault system, and this fault runs past between the North American and Caribbean Plates, causing earthquakes such as Guatemala's 1976 earthquake.
Hi Tiffanie! I really enjoyed reading your blog from this week. One of the things I found most interesting is that your chosen country is located on more than one plate, and partly on the Carribbean Plate, because my chosen country Jamaica is as well! Additionally, the two plates Jamaica is located on also converge, but this causes frequent earthquakes rather than volcanic eruptions. Other than the similarities and differences I noticed between our countries, I really enjoyed the pictures you added into your blog! You did a great job. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Tiffanie! I loved reading your blog for this week! I found it so interesting how both of our countries are on the ring of fire! Although Japan is more on the edge. As for my country, Japan is also an active site for volcano eruptions about 10% of the world's active volcanoes are located in Japan. You did a great job! (:
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